Yellowstone National Park

Located primarily in Wyoming, though parts of it extend into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone is considered the first National Park in the world. Established by an act of Congress and then President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, Yellowstone is famous for its wildlife and geothermal activity—most notably, the geyser known as 'Old Faithful.' Note: bison hurt more people in the park than bears do, so make sure to keep a safe and respectful distance from all wildlife. With approximately 3,468.4 square miles of lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges, plus one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America (Yellowstone Lake) and the largest supervolcano on the continent (Yellowstone Caldera), exploring this national gem should be a must-do on everyone’s life list.

Practical Info:

Yellowstone's southern entrance is located about 90 miles north of Jackson, making the town a popular gateway to the park. The park is always open, but some roads may be closed during the winter. Yellowstone has five visitor centers, an information station and visitor facilities at Tower-Roosevelt, so there are plenty of opportunities to gather more information once you arrive. Entry fees to Yellowstone are $25 for private vehicles; $20 for each snowmobile or motorcycle; $12 for each visitor 16 years and older if you enter by foot, bike, ski, etc. Children 15 years or younger are exempt from paying a park fee. The fee provides a seven-day entry permit for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.